Abstract

As the focus on fundamental science and knowledge over the past decade has now begun to produce dividends demonstrated by the number of nanotechnology-enabled products and market growth, nanomanufacturing remains the essential bridge between the discoveries of the nanosciences and the commercialization of nanotechnologies. Nanomanufacturing, defined as the controllable manipulation of materials structures, components, devices, and systems at the nanoscale (0.1 to 100 nanometers) in one, two, and three dimensions for large-scale reproducibility of value-added components and products, seeks to accelerate the proliferation of nanotechnology enabled products through the development of new process methodologies, tools, materials, and systems that are becoming established within the global manufacturing base. In this manner, many new products, markets, and processes will benefit from value-added commercial products enabled by the collective performance of their nanoscale building blocks. As the focus on fundamental science and knowledge over the past decade has now begun to produce dividends demonstrated by the number of nanotechnology-enabled products and market growth, nanomanufacturing remains the essential bridge between the discoveries of the nanosciences and the commercialization of nanotechnologies. Nanomanufacturing, defined as the controllable manipulation of materials structures, components, devices, and systems at the nanoscale (0.1 to 100 nanometers) in one, two, and three dimensions for large-scale reproducibility of value-added components and products, seeks to accelerate the proliferation of nanotechnology enabled products through the development of new process methodologies, tools, materials, and systems that are becoming established within the global manufacturing base. In this manner, many new products, markets, and processes will benefit from value-added commercial products enabled by the collective performance of their nanoscale building blocks.